Masters of the Sword: A Warblade's Handbook [Under Construction]

[Elfin]

I think you're right, Draz, about Charging Minotaur.
But about the save DCs - both saves in the maneuvers you mention are 13+Str bonus. With an 18 or so Strength at levels 5-6, that's a DC of about 17.
Now, looking at the Fort saves of Core, CR 5 monsters, they seem to average out at about +9 or +10 - that means they'll fail only on rolls below 6 or 7. Not such bad odds, but monster Fort saves shoot up really quickly, and within just two levels I think those DCs really are obsolete, even more so than they were before. I'd say it would be much better if those saves were based on, say, IL.

[Draz74]

But about the save DCs - both saves in the maneuvers you mention are 13+Str bonus. With an 18 or so Strength at levels 5-6, that's a DC of about 17.
Now, looking at the Fort saves of Core, CR 5 monsters, they seem to average out at about +9 or +10 - that means they'll fail only on rolls below 6 or 7. Not such bad odds, but monster Fort saves shoot up really quickly, and within just two levels I think those DCs really are obsolete, even more so than they were before. I'd say it would be much better if those saves were based on, say, IL.

It's practically the same Save DCs that a Wizard of the same level has, on his highest-level spells.

And not all monsters have great Fortitude saves. Maybe these maneuvers are meant for hunting the caster-type monsters.

... screw it, I guess I'm just playing devil's advocate. I actually tend to stay away from maneuvers that offer a save at all, except for Swooping Dragon Strike (save DC = Jump check result, YIKES!).

[Saph]

Insightful Strike is particularly fun once you realise it works with any weapon, including improvised weapons and unarmed strikes. "Want to see a magic trick? I'm going to make this pencil disappear."

[Mongoose87]

Insightful Strike is particularly fun once you realise it works with any weapon, including improvised weapons and unarmed strikes. "Want to see a magic trick? I'm going to make this pencil disappear."

I think I love you.

[Elfin]

I think I love you.

Yeah. I know what you mean.
Sometime, I really need to try that.

[Elfin]

Fourth level maneuvers are up.

[bartman]

In regards to White Raven Tactics, I found it a bit odd that Wizards would consider yourself as an ally, so I did some searching. I could not find an actual custserv ruling, just reference to one. I did however, find an Ask Wizards article from July 31, 2007. Someone asked if you could use WRT on yourself to gain a second turn after your current initiative score, and got a NO. If anyone has an updated reference where they allow it, can you please show it, otherwise, Elfin, you may want to change it to reflect that you cannot use it on yourself.

Here is the wizards link: Ask Wizards

I may be very wrong, but my 5 minute research points to this being in error.

[Telok]

Insightful Strike is particularly fun once you realise it works with any weapon, including improvised weapons and unarmed strikes. "Want to see a magic trick? I'm going to make this pencil disappear."

Remember, if you b*slap the sorcerer for screwing up the teleport (and roll a 20) you get to carry his unconscious body around until he wakes up.

I hit him a little harder than I intended too.

[true_shinken]

I did however, find an Ask Wizards article from July 31, 2007.

I agree with you and I know you meant no harm, but this might become a "Sage is not RAW" issue, unfortunately.

[bartman]

I agree with you and I know you meant no harm, but this might become a "Sage is not RAW" issue, unfortunately.

I had a feeling about that, once I saw the Sage bit, but with it being on wizards website, I would assume it is their ruling. It ultimately comes down to DM ruling, and I know for a fact that I would be beat with both the DMG AND DMG II if I tried to pull that stunt.

[Swooper]

I'm pretty sure that's the only official ruling on the WRT issue, so regardless of lack of RAW on the issue the RAI is pretty clear from this. I'm guessing most groups play it that way anyway...

[Runestar]

The bard entry suggests that you do count as your own ally, though even that is awkwardly worded.

Inspire Courage (Su)
A bard with 3 or more ranks in a Perform skill can use song or poetics to inspire courage in his allies (including himself), bolstering them against fear and improving their combat abilities.

Whether it was intended to be a clarification or an exception...

[Incanur]

WRT is pretty stupid regardless. I hate the maneuver because optimization demands that I surround the BBEG with 5th-level dudes for maximum actions, but there's no way to explain the result that doesn't sound laughably absurd.

DM: "Daleth the Black fills the cavern with a hideous chant. Make a fortitude save."

Player1: (Rolls die.) "19!"

DM: "You feel darkness claiming you but resist its embrace." (Rolls dice.) "You take 33 damage." (Checks initiative order.) "One of Daleth's bodyguards shouts a command and his master casts another spell." (Turns to Player2.) "This time you're the target."

Player2: (Rolls die.) "7. Crap."

DM: "Black flames consume your body." (Rolls die an turns to Player1.) "The guard attacks but can't get through your armor. A second minion speaks and again Daleth invokes Shar."

Player1: "There are two more of these bodyguards, right?"

DM: "Yeah. Now roll the save."

Player1:

[Tael]

Man, if only we had an extremely clear definition of ally available in the core rules... Oh, wait, we do!

ally: A creature friendly to you. In most cases,
references to “allies” include yourself.

[ShneekeyTheLost]

Here are a couple of builds I wrote up for some friends of mine. Useful as examples of what you can do with warblade/fighter and Warblade/psychic warrior.

The drummer boy.

Spoiler

Show

needs 13 Str (more is better), needs 17 Dex (less if drop improved TWF),

Human Two Weapon Fighting
Fighter 1 1/0 Power Attack Weapon Focus -Light Mace
Fighter 2 2/1 Lightning Mace
Fighter 3 3/1 Combat Reflexes
Fighter 4 4/2 Weapon Specialization -Light Mace
Warblade 1 5/3 *Emerald Razor *Wolf Fang Strike *Blood in Water *Moment of Perfect Mind *Lightning Recovery
Warblade 2 6/4 Uncanny Dodge Improved Two-Weapon Fighting *Disarming Strike *Dancing Mongoose
Warblade 3 7/5 *Iron Heart Surge
Fighter 5 8/5
Fighter 6 9/6 Melee Weapon Mastery-Bludegoning Improved Critical -Light Mace
Warblade 4 10/7 *Pearl of Black Doubt *Flesh Ripper (lose Wolf Fang Strike)
Warblade 5 11/8 Quickdraw (bonus feat) *Lightning Recovery
Warblade 6 12/9 Two-Weapon Rend Improved Uncanny *Dancing Mongoose (lose one strike)
Fighter 7 13/9
Fighter 8 14/10 Crushing Strike

Lightning Mace
[Style]
(CWar p113)
Combat Reflexes
Two-Weapon Fighting
Weapon Focus (light mace)
If fighting with a Light Mace in each hand, anytime you threaten a Critical, you gain an
additional attack at the same attack bonus.

Two-Weapon Rend
[General, Fighter]
Dexterity 15
Base Attack Bonus +11
Two-Weapon Fighting
If you damage an opponent with each of your weapons in a given round, you do extra damage equal to
1d6 + 1 ½ Strength modifier. With regards to Damage Reduction, use the off-hand weapon
A given creature may only take this rending damage once per round.

Improved Two-Weapon Fighting
Dexterity 17
Base Attack Bonus +6
Two-Weapon Fighting
As part of a Full Round Attack, you may make an attack
with your secondary weapon at –2, a second attack at –7.

Crushing Strike
[General]
Base Attack Bonus +14
Weapon Focus (any bludgeoning)
Weapon Specialization (any bludgeoning)
Melee Weapon Master – Bludgeoning
When making a Full Round Attack with any Bludgeoning melee weapon, you receive a +1 cumulative
bonus on attack rolls for each roll that has hit this round (i.e., it restarts at +0 at the start of each round).

Melee Weapon Mastery –Bludgeoning
[General, Fighter]
Base Attack Bonus +8
Weapon Focus (any bludgeoning melee)
Weapon Specialization (any bludgeoning melee)
Any Melee Bludgeoning weapon you wield has a +2 bonus on attack & damage rolls.

Disarming Strike Single attack, normal damage, free disarm attempt Standard
Emerald Razor Single attack as touch attack, normal damage Standard
Moment of Perfect Mind Use Concentration check for a Will save Immediate
Dancing Mongoose 1 extra attack per weapon, max 2 extra attacks, Swift
use best attack bonus, single target
Blood in the Water +1 cumulative untyped attack and damage per critical hit (see text) Stance
Wolf Fang Strike Attack with both weapons on one opponent, -2 both attacks Standard
Iron Heart Surge End one effect on you, +2 morale bonus on attacks for one round Standard
Pearl of Black Doubt +2 cumulative dodge bonus per melee attack that misses you, Stance
resets at the beginning of your round
Flesh Ripper Single attack, target has -4 AC and attacks for 1 round, Standard
Fort save (13+Str mod) negates, crit multiplies the duration (see text)
Lightning Recovery Reroll one attack at +2 to hit Immediate

Attack Routines at level 11
Glaive base atk +11 dmg 1d10 crit 20 x3 (+ 1.5 xStr) reach weapon, 2hander
Maul base atk +13 dmg 1d10+2 crit 20 x2 (+ 1.5 xStr) 2hander
Glaive (reach) for attack of opportunity, drop glaive and quickdraw maul
Emerald Razor + Power Attack (touch attack and power atk -10 to hit +20 dmg)

Two Light Maces base atk +12/+7/+2 dmg 1d6+4 crit 19-20 x2 (+ Str)
offhand +12/+7 dmg 1d6+4 crit 19-20 x2 (+ 0.5 xStr)
on threat (19-20) get extra attack at same attack bonus
on crit get +1 to hit & dmg for all following attacks (bonus lasts from the
last crit +10 rounds) while in Blood in the Water stance

at level 12 Str 15 (+2), +1 collision maces.
Two Light Maces base atk +16/+16/+11/+6 dmg 1d6+12 crit 19-20 x2
offhand +16/+16/+11 dmg 1d6+11 crit 19-20 x2
on threat (19-20) get extra attack at same attack bonus
on crit get +1 to hit & dmg for all following attacks (bonus lasts from the
last crit +10 rounds) while in Blood in the Water stance
if hit at least once with each weapon Rend for 1d6+3

Withering: A rod of withering acts as a +1 light mace that deals no hit point damage. Instead, the
wielder deals 1d4 points of Strength damage and 1d4 points of Constitution damage to any creature
she touches with the rod (by making a melee touch attack). If she scores a critical hit, the damage from
that hit is permanent ability drain. In either case, the defender negates the effect with a DC 17 Fort save.

Mr. Smush

Spoiler

Show

DEEP IMPACT [PSIONIC]
Prerequisite: Str 13, Psionic Weapon, base attack bonus +5.
Benefit: To use this feat, you must expend your psionic focus. You can resolve your attack
with a melee weapon as a touch attack. You must decide whether or not to use this feat prior
to making an attack. If your attack misses, you still expend your psionic focus

GREATER PSIONIC WEAPON [PSIONIC]
Prerequisite: Str 13, Psionic Weapon, base attack bonus +5.
Benefit: When you use the Psionic Weapon feat, your attack with a melee weapon deals an
extra 4d6 points of damage instead of an extra 2d6 points.

PSIONIC BODY [PSIONIC]
Benefit: When you take this feat, you gain 2 hit points for each psionic feat you have
(including this one). Whenever you take a new psionic feat, you gain 2 more hit points.

PSIONIC WEAPON [PSIONIC]
Prerequisite: Str 13.
Benefit: To use this feat, you must expend your psionic focus.
Your attack with a melee weapon deals an extra 2d6 points of damage. You must decide
whether or not to use this feat prior to making an attack. If your attack misses,
you still expend your psionic focus

level class bab/ini pow/lvl feats
1 psywar1 0/0 1,1 psionic weapon, power attack, Force Screen
2 psywar2 1/1 2,1 psionic body, Float
3 warblade1 2/2 3-3-1 (1) improved toughness, Moment of Perfect Mind, 2m, 1s
4 warblade2 3/3 4-3-1 (2) Emerald Razor
5 psywar3 4/3 3,1 Expansion
6 warblade3 5/4 5-3-1 (2) deep impact, Battle Leader's Charge
7 psywar4 6/5 4,2 Body Adjustment
8 warblade4 7/6 t-4-2 (3) White Raven Tactics, Pearl of Black Doubt
9 psywar5 7/6 5,2 greater psi weapon, psionic meditation


@12
{standard} emerald razor, PA 10, +str vs. touch AC, wp+(str*1.5)+20
{swift} lightning recovery if miss
{move} psionic meditation [regain focus]

{swift} regain maneuvers
{standard} deep impact [expend focus], PA 10, +str vs. touch AC, wp+(str*1.5)+20
{move} [open]

Sorry about the formatting, I imported them from spreadsheets and didn't fool with them too much.

An improvement of Drummer Boy:

You can pick up Aptitude equivelant from ToB so that any weapon with the Aptitude enhancement is considered to be whatever weapon is necessary for the feats which require specific weapons.

So you could combine, for example, Keen Kukri, with a crit range of 15-20, with Aptitude, and still use them in conjunction with Lightning Mace. Combined with Blood In The Water, it can become possible to have an obscene number of attacks and bonus damage to every attack.

There was even a Test of Spite build which used Aptitude and Lightning Mace and a splitting crossbow or something like that to create a nearly infinite loop. Which was freekin' hilarious when he failed a save vs Death Wish and turned himself into a red mist.

Also, Drummer Boy needs Pouncing Strike or a one-level dip in Lion Totem Barbarian for Pounce

[absolmorph]

An improvement of Drummer Boy:

You can pick up Aptitude equivelant from ToB so that any weapon with the Aptitude enhancement is considered to be whatever weapon is necessary for the feats which require specific weapons.

So you could combine, for example, Keen Kukri, with a crit range of 15-20, with Aptitude, and still use them in conjunction with Lightning Mace. Combined with Blood In The Water, it can become possible to have an obscene number of attacks and bonus damage to every attack.

There was even a Test of Spite build which used Aptitude and Lightning Mace and a splitting crossbow or something like that to create a nearly infinite loop. Which was freekin' hilarious when he failed a save vs Death Wish and turned himself into a red mist.

Also, Drummer Boy needs Pouncing Strike or a one-level dip in Lion Totem Barbarian for Pounce

Olo used a handgun, actually.

[herrhauptmann]

Powerful Build allows you to be counted as one size larger than you are for opposed rolls, when it is advantageous to you.

My life seems strangely backwards. You're confusing Jotunbrud and Powerful Build (which everyone does). But you're making the racial feature weaker, rather than making the feat stronger.

Jotunbrud does what you said.
Powerful build does all that, and lets you use a larger sized weapon.

There's a description of powerful build under halfgiant.

[FelixG]

Man, if only we had an extremely clear definition of ally available in the core rules... Oh, wait, we do!

Nice find! +1 internets for you!

[Endarire]

Stone Dragon is spiffy at L1 for Charging Minotaur and Stone Bones. Mountain Hammer may be worth it. Otherwise, I skip Stone Dragon as-is and use Endarire's Revised Stone Dragon Discipline.

I'm not sure if posted this, but my Hood made spiffy use of swift/immediate action maneuvers as she one-shot or one-rounded almost anything in Red Hand of Doom. She was not the typical Warblade, however. (She was a Feat Rogue1/Cleric1/WhirlPounce Barbarian1/PsyWar1/Warblade1/Abrupt Jaunt Conjurer1/Fighter1/Warblade+1.)

[Greenish]

My life seems strangely backwards. You're confusing Jotunbrud and Powerful Build (which everyone does). But you're making the racial feature weaker, rather than making the feat stronger.

Jotunbrud does what you said.
Powerful build does all that, and lets you use a larger sized weapon.

I know how they work, I was just pointing out that Powerful Build doesn't make you considered Large for hiding under (with Underfoot Combat).

Context, my dear fellow, makes things easier to understand.

[Runestar]

WRT is pretty stupid regardless. I hate the maneuver because optimization demands that I surround the BBEG with 5th-level dudes for maximum actions, but there's no way to explain the result that doesn't sound laughably absurd.

What if they all wore sexy cheerleader outfits?

[Halae]

What if they all wore sexy cheerleader outfits?

Wasn't there a thread a while back proving that simply enchanting clothes was better for your ac than wearing armor...?

[Chen]

I think IHS needs some sort of disclaimer that it can be very good or utterly useless depending on DM's interpretation. I can't think of too many actual effects you'd want to end that give you enough freedom to actually use the standard action to end them. I mean it works on things like abilities penalties (say Ray of Enfeeblement) or fatigued/exhausted/sickened. I'm not really sure giving up your standard action to remove those is worthwhile though (well maybe a large enough ray of enfeeblement is). Now if your DM rules you can use this to remove conditions even if said condition doesn't normally allow a standard action, then yes its fantastic. I suppose if you consider ability damage/drain as an effect/condition with a duration longer than 1 round it could also be useful.

[true_shinken]

I think IHS needs some sort of disclaimer that it can be very good or utterly useless depending on DM's interpretation.

Bestow Curse, ability penalty/drain, lycanthropy and diseases already make IHS more than useful.

[Swooper]

Man, if only we had an extremely clear definition of ally available in the core rules... Oh, wait, we do!

I'm pretty sure that the RAI is that WRT is one of the exceptions to this, as shown by the Sage answer quoted earlier.

[Kyuu Himura]

Probably off-topic, but... where (book, Dragon issue, web-sup, you know) is that rule about the DC 40 tumble check??

Also, more on topic, I would say WRT doesn't work on yourself, after all, White Raven is the Team Work Discipline.

And every time I read a Warblade handbook, I think that Storm Guard Warrior is more and more awesome.

[Dusk Eclipse]

Tumble DC 40 to make a 10 foot step is in Oriental Adventures (3.0) IIRC.

[Kyuu Himura]

Also, on the subject of IHS....

Well, the very wording of the maneuver says that it is a condition or effect, so, say, if you were affected by a spell, you could remove it, provided it does affect "you" and not "the place you're standing on".
I still remember that time I used it to remove a Greater Geass. The guy who put it on me forgot the "don't remove this curse" line. Hilarious.

[Endarire]

The Oriental Adventures high DC Tumble rules were ported to the SRD.

[Mongoose87]

There's nothing there about 5 of 10 foot steps.